Colangelo has talked about sending Bargnani to a couple of camps this summer to improve various aspects of his game. But the kid's biggest problem seems to be between his ears. The Raptors organization has protected Bargnani from the minute they drafted him first overall in 2006, and Colangelo and head coach Sam Mitchell were at it again yesterday. They insist that he is not soft. But his hustle numbers suggest otherwise.

And no Big Man camp in Las Vegas or weeks spent with John Lucas this summer will turn Bargnani into a good rebounder or a tough guy. Only Bargnani can do that.

"I have absolutely no intention of making a coaching change at this time," Colangelo said yesterday.

Take note of those last three words.

"Nobody should be looking at Sam Mitchell and saying it's entirely his fault, or he's facing a firing or a buyout," Colangelo said. "All of that is absolute speculation and it's also storytelling, more than anything," he added.

The knee-jerk reaction is easy, to get rid of the me-first Ford and give the job to the team-first Calderon. But that's easier said than done. Ford could present an economic problem; he has a contract (around $17 million U.S. for two remaining years) and dealing him likely would require Colangelo to absorb a bad contract from someone else. Plus, remember that the Raptors were in four of the five games against Orlando, including Monday's elimination match, and stunk out the finish of three of those games, namely Nos.2, 4 and 5, with Calderon getting most of the crunch minutes.

The strength of the tandem was their difference; Ford remains the quickest Raptor, able to break down defences and penetrate, but too often could lose control. Calderon could turn a corner, too, and is a better shooter from a distance, but can't rival Ford's speed or defence. That's when Ford is in the mood, which wasn't always.

The answer, aside from the real possibility of a bold trade using summertime assets such as the expiring-in-2009 contracts of Rasho Nesterovic, Jorge Garbajosa and Anthony Parker, is no. That's why internal improvement will be key in carving out an identity. Seven months ago the Raptors were billing themselves as young and on the upswing. Now they might best be described as Bosh and the Talent Drop-Off. It's up to Colangelo and Bargnani et al to bridge the chasm.

The Raptors aren't about to let Jorge Garbajosa endanger the 2008-09 season. GM Bryan Colangelo made it clear yesterday the team will go to the wall to ensure the Spaniard does not play for his country this summer.

"I think it's a safe assumption that he will not be playing in the Olympics as long as he's under contract to us," Colangelo said.

“I think a lot rests on his shoulders,” Bosh said. “Just him being the No. 1 pick. As soon as he was picked No. 1, his plate was full. There are a lot of expectations when you're the No. 1 pick.

“He just has to get better. That's all he has to do, work on his game. Work on his weaknesses. And he just has to believe he can be a star in this league...

“With his talent level, he can definitely improve his game. It's just on him. The rest is one his shoulder. Personal development with anyone is a big ‘if'. He has to believe in himself. It starts with him. If he puts forth the effort, I think he can do great things. If he's not going to work, it's not going to happen.”

When Andrea Bargnani, the president's No.1 pick in the 2006 draft, flounders and regresses as the season goes on, was the coach right to adopt a sink-or-swim approach to the 22-year-old's development? Even Mitchell wonders about that. “Maybe I should have pulled back a little bit,” he said.

Which adds weight to the president's doubts that tough love was the right brand of affection for an underachiever he staked his professional reputation on.

“For everyone who is ready to throw him out with the bath water, I beg to differ,” Colangelo said yesterday. “We need to do a better job maybe nurturing what we have.”

It's not that the two men can't agree on anything. It's not that simple.

But it takes a village to raise a star. For Bargnani to develop, he's going to have to stop being a momma's boy - that description comes from several team insiders - and take responsibility for himself. And his coach is going to have to take some of that responsibility, too.

Quote:

It might just be that Bargnani needed the carrot rather than the stick, and the stick is Sam Mitchell's way. In his rookie season, Bargnani would come to the practice facility at night and work out. This season, he stopped.

Quote:

One source said Tuesday, "Is Sam safe? Yes. But will things be run differently? Yes. If you buy in, you'll be around. If not ..."

Jose Calderon
Restricted free agent
Toronto will re-sign him unless some team offers him the max, which won’t happen. He deserved the votes he got for most improved player, and should be the starting point guard next season.
Grade: A

So I say sign both Smith and Childress to long-term deals and try to move the less-efficient Marvin Williams for a point guard. Certainly there is some team out there who wants a relatively inexpensive, athletic, 21 year-old forward that regularly puts up 15/6, right? The Hawks should target the Raptors, who have two good point guards in Jose Calderon and T.J. Ford. Toronto is going to keep Calderon, so Ford seems like a logical fit for the Hawks.